Traveling with tobacco and pipes

[porshcigar]

I always travel with a pipe pouch. I find that otherwise pipes spread into other luggage or bags and then are easier to lose. If you have two pipes in a 2 pipe pouch, you know where they are, you can easily see that both are there, or that one is missing so you can look for it before you leave. I have known too many people, including myself, who have lost a pipe by thinking it was somewhere it was not. Nothing helps you to keep track of your pipes like a pouch.

 

[bubbadreier]

I guess I should clarify that I usually carry 2 pipes with me and a baggy of tobacco in a pipe pipe leather case.

 

[mluyckx]

I travel a lot for work, usually week long or the occasional two week stretch. I am looking at a travel case since I'm worried that just putting the pipes in my carry-on (with laptop, notebooks, etc) is ultimately going to result in dings, scratches and (god forbid) breaking.
My main question is really how many pipes you guys take along for a week ? I'm pretty new to the pipe smoking world and am starting to expand the collection slowly. Hence, most of my pipes are relatively new and barely broken in (around 10 bowls on the newer ones)and I tend to not smoke the newer ones more than once a day, if that. Based on what I've read, I feel like I should stick with a good rotation, which means I'll need to take along 3 or 4 pipes, which is pretty much my entire set for now ;-)
Am I overly worried about rotating pipes ?

How many pipes do you take for a week long trip ?
Thanks for all the help. This forum has been a great educational resource !

 

[yuri66]

Here is the question that I did not see asked, if traveling by air, what do you do with your pipes? and the reaming tool? or do you just not take the tool. This has always been a dilema for me since airline travel has become so restrictive, I had a few Chek tools confiscated over the years now and I tend to, if I can, check my luggage with all the pipes and such in it so I do not loose some of my high priced tools, but what to do when not checking in your luggage? do you just not bring your reaming tool?

 

[mluyckx]

Yuri.
Guess I've been lucky lately because my Czech tools have made it through pretty much all the time. But then again, there's usually enough other stuff in my carry-on that perhaps they hadn't noticed. I tend to my lighter, cell phone and stuff in my carry-on bag. Combine that with my laptop battery and charger, usually international plug adapters, etc, the TSA guys may not have picked up the czech tool on the scanners.
I definitely don't put the pipes in my checked bag. You can keep a wooden tamper in your carry-on. Reaming tools, take a cheap one, see whether they confiscate it has been my motto ;-)
Hope this helps

 

[buster]

I picked up this one at a local shop for $20 Should have ordered it at this price but what ever. I like it as I can cary a pipe, tool, cleaners, wind cap and enough tobacco to last me a while. Fits in my jacket pocket or the door in my car. I believe they make a two pipe case also for around the same price.
http://pipesandcigars.com/zipitocopofo1.html

 

[gecko13]

I traveled recently and placed a couple briars, tobacco pouch and a couple tins in my checked luggage. When I got home I discovered a card inside stating that TSA had decided my luggage was a possible threat and to toss my luggage and were not responsible for any damage that may have occurred in doing so. In addition to rifling through its contents, they disassembled my pipes (at first I couldn't find one of the stems), went through the tobacco pouch, and tins of tobacco. I am all for law and order, but many agents are quite ignorant as to what specific items are. I suppose he thought he had a big drug bust going. :twisted:

 

[mluyckx]

Buster,
Thanks for the link. Pipes and Cigars has a nice four pipe case I've been looking at:

http://pipesandcigars.com/4picopo.html
Or I found this Castelford on ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390349509406?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_500wt_1151
Which brings me back to my question

1) Am I overly worried about my rotation ? Should I be able to travel with just two instead of four pipes ?

2) How many pipes would you take on a week long trip ?
Gecko,

Yeah... never check anything of value.. ever ;-) Many years ago (way before 9/11), a colleague once decided to put her laptop in her checked luggage for a cross-atlantic trip. Trying to avoid hauling the weight around during the lay-over (it was before the days of light-weight laptops). Upon arrival.. no laptop. :crying:

 

[philip]

If you only take two briars, take along a cob as well. They are great for giving the briars a rest.

 

[buster]

Well I do not smoke that much maybe two bowls a day rarely three out of the same pipe. I figure if you have two you can use one a day and let the other rest. I noticed after a week of two bowls a day my newest pipe needed to dry out. I do not worry about rotation to much but I do mostly smoke aromatics so it can get a little wet. Once I get a gurgle I clean it up and let it alone for a few days to dry out. I would guess rotation depends on how much you smoke each day. I think I could get away with one or two pipes for a week trip but that is me.
Remember in the old days most smokers only had one pipe that they smoked all day every day. So how much harm could come from smoking one pipe exclusively for a week. Just remember to pack lots of pipe cleaners and a flask(Or air plain bottle) of booze to clean the stem at night and you should be fine. I think that 4 pipe pouch is a great deal for the price so why not get it? Sounds like it fits your needs? I'm sure you will be happy with it. I like my one pipe case that has room for the tobacco and supplies for on the go. Mine is the Castleford brand also.

 

[mluyckx]

Thanks guys for the feedback. I'm still kinda new at the whole pipe smoking thing, so I appreciate the help.
Given my average of 3 bowls a day, it looks like I'll need a minimum of two. Or like Philip said, if I only take two, add a cob. That convinced me to buy the four pipe bag and not the two pipe. And then I doesn't matter if I take two or four since I'll have the room for it. :lol:
I know in the old days people had one pipe pretty much all the time, but I guess they were cheaper and from what I'm reading perhaps even a bit better made. Seems to be the case nowadays with everything from TV's, refrigerators, to pipes... ;-)
Once again, thanks for the advice.

 

[buster]

Solid decision on your part! I say go with what your first though is. That way it will fit your style, be it pipes or fishing poles.
So where you going on this trip?

 

[baronsamedi]

I carry the Meer in its case and I have a leather case with a compartment for a pipe/tools and a plastic lined compartment for baccy. If I bring several baccys I bring them in the tins because I've seen police get pretty silly about strange plants rolled up in ziploc bags. I had a friend who almost went to jail for sesame seeds on his car seat. No Kidding!

 

[mluyckx]

Buster.. Just a one week business trip to California Bay area. That's it for this year. January looks a little hectic ;-) So I hope to get this bag under the tree.

 

[brewshooter]

I have a single pipe pouch that I tend to throw my nigh invulnerable brylon Yello Bole into. It smokes hot, but it can take a beating. Another option I use is a modular travel fishing tackle box that I've divided to hold three pipes, tobacco and tools.

 

[philip]

I put each pipe in a small bag to protect it. These I put into a larger bag full of pouches and other bags with tobacco and other stuff. This goes into a larger bag next to another bag containing another bag with my cell phone and yet other bags with yet other stuff. Both these larger bags go into another still larger bag to make the smaller bags eaier to carry. I then put this larger bag into an even larger bag in case I need to go to the store or something and end up with more stuff to carry. Then, if the weather is bad, I put the last large bag into another bag that is water proof so everything stays dry.
If ever the cell phone rings, bags can start flying every which way, but I still never manage to get to it in time.
I hope your system works better!

 

[buster]

mluyckx wrote;

Just a one week business trip to California Bay area.
I live in the South bay. Shoot me a PM maybe I can give you some tips to some local things you might be interested in? I'm a bit busy with my 5 year old and all but let me know if you are in the area.

 

[brewshooter]

Where will you be in the Bay Area mluyckx? I'm located in the East Bay.

 

[kennerth]

I buy zippered neoprene sun glass cases at the dollar store. They provide good padding and will either fit a pipe assembled or with the stem out. If I am traveling light (one pipe) I can fit my pipe, a lighter, a tamper, a few pipe cleaners and a selection of tobacco. I accomplish the selection by using very small pill ziplocks from the vitamin stores. They hold 1 to 3 bowls. I can fit three of them full in with they other items. If I want it to, it whole thing fits in my shirt pocket, or it has a snap clamp for attaching to something. This is the rig I take for one or two nights, and definitely when I go out to play music for a night. If I was staying longer somewhere, I would count on buying some tobacco on the road, because most trips will include checking out a local shop, and I like having some tobacco to remember the trip.
Good luck!

 

[igloo]

Phillip that post put a smile on my face . :clap: